Henry d



{No.Modl.) V

' H. D. STREATOR.

i POST. No. 574,641.l Patented Jan. 5, 1897.

Witnesss: 1111751112011 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY I). STREATOR, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,641, dated January 5, 1897.

Application filed December 3, 1894. Serial No. 530,659. KNO model.)

vT0 all whom, it 11i/ay concern,.-

Beit known that I, HENRY D. STREATOE, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Posts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in fence-posts and posts of other descriptions and means for preserving the same when placed in the ground.

The objects of my invention are, iirst, to provide a means of preserving the post when placed in the ground; second, toprovide a means of causing circulation of air around the lower end ofthe post after the same has been set in the ground to prevent decay by keeping the post dry; third, to provide improved ineans of holding the postsecurely in the ground; fourth, to provide means of preventing injury to the post arising from moisture saturating the same. I accomplish these objects of my invention by the devices shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l shows the most approved form of my device for an ordinary fence-post. Fig. 2 shows a slight modification of the same. Fig. 3 shows my invention adapted for use with a round post and is especially well adapted for use in connection with telegraph and telephone poles. Fig. 4 presents a moditication of the device wherein corrugated iron is used for the purpose of constructing the flues.

In the drawings similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A represents `the post, around which is placed a suitable casing, as D, which is designed to be a little separated from the post all the way around to permit of circulation of air around the saine. I prefer to support the post at its bottom on a transverse dat strip n and hold the casing away from the post by the thin flat strips n. One side of the casing extends up at D to form a flue at aconsiderable height to the side of the post. It will thus be seen that when the post is in place in this position with the soil packed around the outer casing there will be short air-fines to one side and longer flues extending up to the opposite side, and by placing the blocks n under the post there will be a passage under the post. The higher flue D' will of course become heated somewhat above the temperature of the lower parts, and air will pass up at. that point, as from an ordinary chimney, drawing the air down through the shorter flue, up through the longer, causing circulation around the bottom of the post, which will prevent molding and decay and also keep the post dry, preventing the injurious effects to the post from water saturating the same.

In Fig. 2 the modification shown shows the casing nailed tight to the sides of the post, the tlue opening on only two sides. A notch 'm is cut off the .bottom of the post to allow the air to circulate past.

Fig. 3 shows my invention adapt-ed to a round p`ost,which is also well designed for use in connection with telephone and telegraph poles and poles of that character, in which case the pole is placed upon a block n, which supports it a little dist-ance up from the bottom, and the casing is nailed to the sides, the angles of the casing forming passages or flues, and thus compelling circulation around the same.

In Fig. et I show the saine result as accomplished in the other iigures by means of corrugated iron. The iron is crimped near the bottom to support the post a little distance above the ground, saving the necessity of having a block for the purpose, and the air circulates down through the passages formed by the corrugations in the iron.

I desire to state that my improved device for Ventilating and drying the bottom end of the fence-post will operate to the best advantage when the higher iiue is placed to the south side of the post, where it will be directly exposed to the action of the suns rays, which will expand the air and give the flue a stronger draft; and I desire to state that the higher flue can be extended to any height desired. In Fig. et I show it extending almost to the top of the post, which will get a very strong draft. However, it will be found sufiicient if the taller flue extends up in about the proportion to the shorter flue ot' the height indicated in the other figures, and the device will be effective.

I desire to state that the iiues in connection with my improved post can be constructed in various ways without departing from my invention, as will be readily understood by the accompanying drawings. As I indicated above, the strength of the draft can be regulated by the comparative height of the two flues. It is very desirable to place a block under the end of the post for thc reason that moisture will not travel readily sidewise through the grain oi timber when it will be absorbed quite quickly from an end cut, and such an arrangement prevents the post absorbing the moisture from the ground below. However, if the post is supported entirely free from the ground (indicated in Fig. 4) such block-support will not be found necessary.

My device depends for its efficiency ou the circulation of the drieratmospheric air down around the end of the post to keep the post dry an d prevent its absorbing moist-ure. The device is specially adapted for use in fenceposts, gate-posts, telegraph and telephone poles, and posts for foundations of buildings, or in any post or support that is used by being placed in the ground, as the circulation of the current of dry air around the same prevents the action of the moisture in the soil and preserves the post, and the material of which the post is constructed will thus be kept sound for many years, and when finally decay does come to the outer casing a new casing can be substituted in the saine way without having caused any undue injury to the post.

The bottom of the casing around the post should be open under ordinary circumstances to allow water from heavy rain or from melting snow or other causes which may flow into the iiue between the casing and the post to soak into the ground below and pass away.

Havinfr thus described 1n 1 invention what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of a post with a casing around said post sepa-rated a little distance therefrom and extending to different heights on opposite sides to form two independent lues of different heights a passage connecting the ues together at the bottom to cause circulation around the post to dry and preserve the same, for the purpose specilicd.

2. The combination with a post, of a casing around thesaid post extending to diiereut heights to the sides of the post to form independent flues of diierent heights a passage connecting the flues at the bottom so that the air shall circulate down through the shorter tlues around under theA post, out and up through the longer lues for the purpose of drying and preserving the post, for the purpose specified.

3. The combination with the post of a suit able casing around the same extended to different heights to form tlues of diiterent heights; a block under the post to support the same and att'ord connection between the bottom of the fines to induce circulation of air, for the purpose specified.

4. The combination of a post, the casing, D, around the same forming tues of different heights; strips, n, n, between the casing and post to form said fines; a block, n', under the post to support the same to prevent its absorbing moisture from the soil and form a passage to connect the lower end of the lues so that the air can circulate, for the purpose specified.

5. The combination of a post, a casing of boards around the lower part of the same higher at one side than the other; vertical strips between said casing and post to divide the space into ues of diierent height; and a block laid under said post to support it to afford ventilation as specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence ot' two witnesses. 

